Posted by dz on December 19, 2003 at 16:19:40:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Teaching and reality posted by js on December 19, 2003 at 13:57:58:
Hi Joe.
Tried to e-mail you off-board, but the address I had for you got kicked back.
While I read the thread on Tubenet about "government {socialist} schools", it hits home a bit that other professionals take such a dim view of what it is that I do for a living.
While I strive to maintain a pretty high standard in my studio, it is not without its problems. I have actively discouraged some students to switch out of music, I have been sorry to lose some supremely talented kids who didn't want to meet my work ethic challenge, and I have at times asked myself "Why the hell am I doing this?" Ultimately, the answer is: a.) I am honored to work with the students that I teach, and b.) I'm pretty sure that I am providing a service that they want.
The state university system is what it is. I am sorry that you feel that the taxpayer dollar is squandered paying my salary and the salary of my peers. I have a much bigger problem with the football coach who is pulling down $1.6 million or the University President who gets a 100% salary increase when there is no money for raises for his teaching faculty.
The bottom line for me is this: my position allows me to feed and clothe my family. It is a frustration that one can be near the top of his profession and have to rely on "the dole", as you might be inclined to call it, for a living. I apologize for this burden on you and your family. While I wish that it were possible in our society for a tuba player to make a comfortable and predictable income without State universities or military bands, it is a sad fact that these two entities probably hire more tubists than all private sector gigs combined. I will agree with Tony that this is a better use of taxpayer money than stockpiling WMD that we will invade other countries for, because they "may" have the technology to make their own.
Perhaps I should do something with my life that would show an entrepeneurial spirit and contribute something that our society would appreciate...I'm thinking printing up a bunch of "Saddam Sucks" t-shirts, or creating a new reality TV series in which hot women are courted and ultimately cannibalized by tribes of hostile leprechauns.
With all due respect, your spin has contributed substantially to a pretty bad week in the land of the mid-life crisis! Remember that when you throw stones, there's a pretty good chance that they might hit someone!
Have a nice day.
Dave